Meet the Kirksey Family
Single mom Shalita Kirksey isn’t afraid of hard work. Owning her own salon until two years ago, she regularly put in 12-hour days. However, she was concerned that she wasn’t spending enough “mom time” with nine-year-old Noah and five-year-old Micah, so she closed the salon and scaled back her schedule.
As a result, Shalita’s income took a hit, and she found herself behind on certain bills. That’s not the example she wants to set for her boys. In fact, she recently helped Noah make his first deposit into his own Sammy Squirrel savings account at Florida Commerce. Now she needs help raising her credit score, increasing her income, and saving enough money for a down payment on a used car and a commercial property.
Blog
Unamericanized
06/25/2010 09:56 am
Living Fit is showing me how spoiled I was. The transformation of living fit really hurts. But it feels great to know that there is life without having unessary things. 1st I had to call newport, victoria secret, and boston proper. I told them not to send me anymore of those dern catalogs. I mean I must have been their favorite consumer. My mail box and inbox stayed flooded with catalogs and promotions.
Secondly, “artificial nails”, I havent grew out my natural nails in forever. Those artficial nails add up $. I don’t think I’ll be wearing those again. Who can relate to hair extensions? If you can, than you know that habbit is costly. But it sure is fun, to look like a different women. Hair extensions is a thing of my past, “for now”. But I will throw on my Queen B’ wig, just to switch it up sometime.
I’m living off of 80% of my income; No credit card usage.How unamerican is that? “Very”. I’m actually overseeing my own kids majority of the time….How unamericanized is that? Yep, could’nt afford the elaborate summer camp this summer. In the past I’ve spent 1,200.00 per mo. On a summer camp for my kids. To me that was a lot of money, it was definitly a sacrifice. But their smiles made it worth it. I am definitly a sucker for an experience and I live through their’s at times.
Today is a new day! I am now transformed! I am unamericanized! And now I’m going to pick up the China man’s spirit………
Emplyed Perks
06/19/2010 12:57 pm
Now I se why people stay on jobs. I work at Dr. Serial's office twice a week and he's a very deligently Dr. may I add. Perks; they have catered food just about everyday. And I love to eat. Everyone that knows Lita, knows she love to eat. I love it even the more when its free. Perks; I and my kids just left the Governor Square Theatre, we watch Shrek forever after. We had popcorn, drinks, and candy. All for free, courtesy of the medical feild.
Yet and still, I would never give up being free, having independence, self-employed and definitly not my entreprenurial spirit
Its Crunch Time
06/05/2010 01:52 pm
There is so much going on all at once and to think elimination is right around the corner. Getting financially fit is definitely a work out. So first off here’s the feed back on the yard sale. Matter of fact the whole week of the yard sale, I was focus. My garage was loaded with unwanted furniture and Salon equipment I posted my unwanted in the Tallahassee Advertiser and made a quick 425$ sale. By the end of the Memorial Day weekend. I made close to 500$. I felt great.
Fast forward to Tuesday, shuffling papers. Oh how I dislike paper work. Sorting through bills, would you know that I didn’t know how many bills I paid each month and on top of that I only knew when three out of eleven were due. Yea I know…I’m working on it. I’m working on it.
In conclusion, if your not registered today. Get registered today. Voting on June 14, vote for me daily. And as for now, please reply to my discussion follow this link and get everyone you know to evolved
http://floridacommerce.org/welivefit/discuss/whats_the_worst_financial_advice_that_you_ve_taken
Finally In Order
05/28/2010 12:14 pm
Getting your home in order plays a major role in your finances. At least for me it does. I always desired to live a balance life as some would say well rounded. Eventually I found out without order, life tends to break us down. It could be one year or ten years from now. And for me my break down was two years ago. At the time I was excelling in the success of my career as an hairdresser. Between my talent and love for people, I was compelled to open the doors of the 1st Salon in Tallahassee that embraced multi-culture http://beautifyyourselfsalon.com. At that time living a balance life as a single parent seem inevitable. You never know the challenges that you may face when raising a child. And as a single parent, depending on the circumstance there could be tons of emotional distress. Looking at the obstacle, you only get one chance at raising a child. As a great parent, I was and am passionate about my boys.
So there I was two years ago faced with a decision. Dreams in one hand and family in the other. I chose family. A sacrifice that parents often make and sad to say some parents never live or they live their life through them. As for me I went on to empower myself I became spiritually connected by studying the word of Christ. I also attain self help books such as: 1.The Power of a Praying Women 2. The Difficult Child 3. Raising Cane. Those three were most significant.
With gained knowledge and a little wisdom. My children are now flourishing and exceeding in everything they do. My Noah did exceedingly well on his FCAT and he’s now testing for gifted/honor classes for next year. And to think only two years ago he had an teacher that thought he should spend his school days in ESE (learning disability). I guess that would have been the easiest thing for her to do, instead of embracing his difference. I also dealt with pressure from his previous school, to medicate him. I recall his teacher making a statement, “he can’t come to school unless he takes his medicine”. Please note parents, that medication is merely an option. I chose to deal with my son challenges soberly. As result he continues to do better. I thank God that I knew my child was highly comprehensive, intelligent and had common sense galore.
Hopefully me sharing this story has help someone. In conclusion, last week I attain life insurance and accidental insurance through AFLAC, for myself and the boys. I now feel secure that I am prepared for the worst and that I am ready for the best. Order brings everything blissfully together.----------Kirksey Family
Great info from Balance
05/18/2010 08:28 pm
I recently did a credit report phone consultation with a company called Balance. The guy gave me some really great tips. He suggested that I consolidate my student loans and not only that; he told me to ask whatever lender I decided to go with for 25% off when doing a automated withdrawl. He also stated that once an account has gone into collections, that its ok to pay them off at a discount. So you know I'm talking them down. Also, if you want to keep your credit score soaring. For exp: I have a credit card with a limit 1,500. His advice was never use more than 600$. Lenders most definitly don't want to see that you max credit out.
The Yard Sale
05/14/2010 05:26 pm
I must have been overly excited about the yard sale. I showed up a week early; yep t-shirt, cap, and khakis and a friend to help that had just got off from work 4 am in the morning. Yes absolutely embarrassing .Ok. Fast forward to the weekend of the actual yard sale. This was my 1st time having a yard sale. And being up that early isn’t my cup of tea. But I tell you I learned a lot. The best yard sells or garage sells, has a variety of things to sell. I surely did not have the largest selection. But I sure did have the grisliest set up. If that could brought me some money I would have been loaded After leaving there I thought of tons of things that I could have brought out. So I decided that I’m going to have the biggest yard sale in my neighborhood ever. And I’m inviting other family members to bring their things. I scarcely brought in about 200$ and I regret selling a pair of skates that baby son could have eventually won. My dad would bite my head off if he knew about it. He paid at least 150$ bucks for them and guess what I sold them for……..7$. The mom that I sold them to said that her son barely knew how to skate. Once sold, he put them on……He rode like pro to me.
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Scorecard
| Current Savings* | Debt Level* | FICO Score |
|---|---|---|
| $75.02 | $7,778.00 | 631 |
Figures as of April 2010
